MCALL: Nyktas caps Hibos' rally over Hightstown

By RICH FISHER, For The Trentonian

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

HAMILTON — Stefanos Nyktas went from on the mound, to behind the plate, to under the pile.

Nyktas delivered a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the seventh to cap a three-run rally and give North Hamilton a wild, 5-4 win over Hightstown in a Mercer County American Legion League game at Trenton Catholic last night.

Making his first mound start of the year, Nyktas scattered nine hits and three walks over six innings, allowing just two runs. In the seventh, catcher Luke Westerberg took the mound and Nyktas went behind the plate. After his hit, he was mobbed by his teammates and took a while to come up for air.

After Hightstown scored two controversial runs in the top of the seventh, North Hamilton countered with some controversial runs of its own to improve to 4-8.

“That was one of the best games I’ve ever witnessed or played in,” Nyktas said. “It was really exciting all the way to the end. They came back, we came back and we just got on top.”

Hightstown (5-7), which had been playing well, got five strong innings from Greg Pascullo, who stood to be the winner when Matt DeAngelis’ RBI single gave Post 148 a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth. The Hibernians tied it in the bottom of the inning when Joe Kubis and Westerberg walked , Nyktas reached on a bunt single and Kubis scored on a wild pitch.

North Hamilton couldn’t capitalize on runners and second-and-third with no outs, however, setting up the chaotic seventh.

Drew DeAngelis was hit by a pitch and Pascullo singled to right. Kubis appeared to have gunned down DeAngelis at third but the runner was called safe. Westerberg, who never argues, was miffed but stayed quiet for the time being. Matt Chipego then got an RBI single and one out and one walk later, John Gannon delivered run-scoring single.

A huge play then developed when Brian Touhy hit a fly ball to right on which Kubis gunned a strike to home to nail Chipego trying to score. At that point, Westerberg said a few words and was quickly tossed, which brought out manager Steve Krecicki, who was also ejected.

Trailing 4-2, North Hamilton got a one-out double from Stephen Brown, who moved to third on a grounder. Down to their last out, the Hibos got an RBI single from Eric Struble and another single by Kubis (who fouled off three 3-2 pitches).

RJ Komet, batting in Westerberg’s spot, hit a squibber down the first base line that Pascullo, now on first, grabbed and dove to the bag in a bang-bang play. Komet was called safe, bringing violent screams of protest from one Post 148 assistant.

With the bases loaded, Nyktas worked the count to 3-2 before lining a pitch into right-center to win it.

“You gotta give (Komet) credit,” Krecicki said. “A lot of kids would just say ‘I blew the game’ and not run that out. He sprinted and beat it out. And we knew once the count got to 3-2 (on Nyktas) we’re either getting a walk to tie or a base hit wins it because they’re off on the pitch.”

Hightstown manager Doug Herrin thought his team had the game won on Komet’s at-bat, but tipped his hat to the Hibos.

“It’s hard to take a loss like that,” he said. “You let umpires determine the outcome on both sides, you’re gonna get bad calls both ways, but you can’t let an umpire finish the game like that. . .but the call stands and you gotta play through it.

“You have to give credit to North Hamilton. They fought and they did what they had to do to win the game. You can’t take anything away from coach Steve’s club.”